Drive Alignment Question.

[agallant80]

I pulled my Bravo3 this weekend. When I went to stick the alignment rod in it would not go in. After measuring it I discovered that the alignment bar was too big. My question is did I order the wrong aliment bar or is the coupler the same size for all mercruiser drives?

By the way when I put the drive back on it slipped right back in no problem.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I pulled my Bravo3 this weekend. When I went to stick the alignment rod in it would not go in. After measuring it I discovered that the alignment bar was too big. My question is did I order the wrong aliment bar or is the coupler the same size for all mercruiser drives?

By the way when I put the drive back on it slipped right back in no problem.

Ayuh,.... There's only 1 size alignment bar,....

Yer's should match the drawin's up in Don'S Adults Only section,...

 

[alldodge]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I pulled my Bravo3 this weekend. When I went to stick the alignment rod in it would not go in. After measuring it I discovered that the alignment bar was too big. My question is did I order the wrong aliment bar or is the coupler the same size for all mercruiser drives?

By the way when I put the drive back on it slipped right back in no problem.

+1 , which one did you buy

 

[agallant80]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I bought one off of ebay. The guy has good reviews I just think this one may have made it by him being out of spec.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I bought one off of ebay. The guy has good reviews I just think this one may have made it by him being out of spec.

As Bondo mentioned there is only one size. Are you sure the tool is over size or maybe your Edit: engine needs adjusting?

Edit: don't know why I said drive at first

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

What part is too big?

Like others said, you likely are out of alignment.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

You can caliper the bar to check specs if you think it is wrong.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I used a caliper on the bar. The part of the bar that went in to the coupler was off. I am not too worried about the drive alignment. I was just trying to do my due dilligance and I wanted to see what was involved in pulling a B3. In June 2013 the drive was pulled for an issue and the dealer checked the alignment. If it was misaligned would the shaft have gone right back in?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

It can go back in. If it is not aligned right the coupler will go out which requires the engine to be pulled. You are probably OK since it was just checked but I would get the correct bar if it was me.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I used a caliper on the bar. The part of the bar that went in to the coupler was off. I am not too worried about the drive alignment. I was just trying to do my due dilligance and I wanted to see what was involved in pulling a B3. In June 2013 the drive was pulled for an issue and the dealer checked the alignment. If it was misaligned would the shaft have gone right back in?

So your second section is larger then 1.150 (29.21) ?
http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...utdrives/engine-alignment-how-tos-443992.html

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

If it was misaligned would the shaft have gone right back in?

It could have. Assuming the dealer actually checked the alignment(big assumption sometimes) you should be ok.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

The very tip of the bar was too big. As for the dealer checking the alignment the mechanic told me he always does it as part of pulling the drive and I could skip the new boat 50 hour service because he had to change the gear lube, pull the drive and check the alignment.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

The very tip of the bar was too big. As for the dealer checking the alignment the mechanic told me he always does it as part of pulling the drive and I could skip the new boat 50 hour service because he had to change the gear lube, pull the drive and check the alignment.

If it's a new boat, it's ALWAYS good to check the alignment after the first season, 50-100 hrs etc You catch a problem before it can become a problem.

If the bar went into the gimbal bearing but not into the coupler, it's possible that you repositioned the gimbal bearing while removing the drive.

The gimbal bearing is sort of like an "eyeball" socket...........

 

[agallant80]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I measured the input shaft inbetween the splines and measured the outter part of the alignment tool. The tool was bigger than the input shaft between the splines. I had my neighbor in the engine compartment looking at the coupler trying to guide the alignment tool in but it was a no go. The drive did go right back on no problem though.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I measured the input shaft inbetween the splines and measured the outter part of the alignment tool. The tool was bigger than the input shaft between the splines. I had my neighbor in the engine compartment looking at the coupler trying to guide the alignment tool in but it was a no go. The drive did go right back on no problem though.

Guess it's time to contact the seller on ebay

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Drive Alignment Question.

I measured the input shaft inbetween the splines and measured the outter part of the alignment tool. The tool was bigger than the input shaft between the splines. I had my neighbor in the engine compartment looking at the coupler trying to guide the alignment tool in but it was a no go. The drive did go right back on no problem though.

I bought one off ebay too...... It was bent!

SO, I made one using a piece of 1 3/8" steel rod and a neighbors lathe in about 40 minutes. I thought about using the bent one I bought but it would have been too short after I cut the bent part off.......

If the tool fit the gimbal bearing correctly but NOT the coupler, find someone with a lathe and have them turn it. Yours might be bent too. you'll see it immediately when you put it in the lathe.....

It'll take less than 30 min to set it up and make the cut....... Use the following dimensions (copied from Don's FAQ for I/O's)